A bachelor party that was supposed to be celebratory will have forever changed the lives of two 41-year-old men who were found guilty on Thursday of the serious charges against them.
Martin Roussin-Bizier was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault against him. His cousin, Patrick Toussaint, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm for delivering a severe blow to the head with a stick to a young man who was defending his friend's two young victims.
Judge Sarah-Julie Chicoine found that the statements of the group of young people involved in the events of that evening in September 2022 were reliable and credible. The defense raised no reasonable doubt.
Martin Roussin-Bizier Screenshot – Video submitted as evidence
Sexual touching
On the night of September 10th to 11th, 2022, Roussin-Bizier and Toussaint, two cousins, celebrated the former's bachelor party in the company of another person.
According to the complainants, while taking photos with the groom-to-be, who was then disguised as a woman, he took the opportunity to touch her sexually.
Judge Sarah-Julie Chicoine believed the versions of the two victims, aged 19 and 20, with one being touched by Roussin-Bizier in the crotch under her dress, while the second was grabbed by the hips and then dragged towards the 41-year-old's pelvis . year old man. The defendant, for his part, completely denied the crimes he was accused of.
“In less than 20 minutes, two young women, who were not in each other's presence, spontaneously complained to those around them about Martin Roussin-Bizier's behavior towards them. Let us remember that at this moment one does not know what the other is accusing him of [l’accusé] and vice versa,” the judge emphasized and found the man guilty across the board.
Excessive force
In the moments that followed, one of the young girls' friends, to whom they had just told about the situation, began stalking the party trio.
After they joined them on Saint-Joseph Street and confronted them, the situation escalated. The young man beat Martin Roussin-Bizier and Patrick Toussaint and then severely beat the young man with a metal stick.
“As soon as he receives the blow, he loses all sound and collapses to the ground,” Judge Chicoine said in her decision, emphasizing that the defense of “self-defense” cannot apply given the excessive force used.
“The nature of his actions and the level of force he used, striking the victim directly on the head, constitute extremely dangerous and completely disproportionate conduct,” emphasized Judge Chicoine.
The case will go back to court at the end of February to set a date for comments on the sentence to be imposed on the two men, who had no previous convictions before that evening.
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.